Change 7 Lunar Probe Arrives at Wenchang, Targeting August 2026 Launch to Hunt for Water Ice at the Moons South Pole
Summary: Chinas Change 7 probe has been delivered to Wenchang and is scheduled to launch in August 2026, landing near Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole to search for water ice.
According to recent reports, the Change 7 lunar probe has been delivered to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, with liftoff currently planned for August 2026. The mission is expected to ride a Long March 5 launch vehicle from Wenchang, headed for the south polar region of the Moon.
Change 7 is targeting a touchdown on elevated terrain near Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole. Much of this area sits in permanent or near-permanent shadow, making it one of the most promising sites on the lunar surface where water ice could remain stable over geological timescales. A central goal of the mission is to perform in-situ surveys of that water ice, including its distribution and abundance.
Public mission briefings indicate that Change 7 will carry an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a small hopping probe designed to venture into permanently shadowed craters for closer inspection. Beyond water ice, the mission will also characterize the local terrain, mineral composition, and space environment at the south pole.
As a major step in Phase IV of the Chinese lunar exploration program, Change 7 is expected to deliver data that will support the follow-on Change 8 mission and the planned International Lunar Research Station. The final launch window will depend on rocket readiness, tracking conditions, and lunar lighting geometry at the landing site.